Visit These Three National Parks In Croatia This Year

In the wake of the pandemic, many people find themselves longing to be out in nature, breathing the fresh air in peaceful surroundings. Croatia can offer that and more with its beautiful national parks. The country overlooks the crystal-clear aqua waters of the Adriatic Sea with the backing of the beautiful Dinaric Alps. This makes its natural landscape stunningly beautiful and the country has a total of eight national parks to preserve and protect this nature. Here we take a brief tour of three top national parks in Croatia.

1. Plitvice Lakes National Park

 

The beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park is located three hours from Split and two hours from Zagreb. This highly Instagrammable location was, in fact, the first national park in Croatia and is still the largest now.

The magnificent lake system has an otherworldly beauty. It consists of 16 interconnected, terrace lakes, created by tufa barriers (natural deposits of calcium carbonate). These have formed natural dams of turquoise water, along with more than 90 waterfalls and pools.

Besides the beautiful turquoise water, the park features dense forests and green meadows brimming with wildlife. Here you can spot brown bears, lynx, grey wolves and an incredible range of trees, plants and flower species. Tours are available from Split, Zadar and Zagreb.

2. Krka National Park, Croatia

For those travelers visiting the historic and beautiful city of Split, Krka National Park takes you away from the crowds out into nature. The park is named for the Krka River which runs through the Dalmatia region and covers 109 sq km (42 sq miles). The park, and the river, are home to 16 cascades, including the largest travertine waterfall in Europe. However, it is a group of seven waterfalls that most travelers come here to see.

The most famous is Skradinski Buk, while the Roski Slap cascade is just as beautiful. Here, you must have your swimsuit handy to take a dip into the crystal-clear pools. Meanwhile, as you head down the river, you find Visovac Monastery, perched on a small island in the middle of the river.

Another site close by is the Serbian Orthodox Krka Monastery which was founded in the Middle Ages. Travelers can catch a boat to the monastery from Roski Slap and during summer and autumn, guided tours are available, detailing the building and its history.

In fact, tours of the whole national park are available from Sibenik, unless you have your own transport. Meanwhile, private tours combine wine tasting in the Sibenik area, including a trip to the falls.

3. Mljet National Park

This national park is crisscrossed with walking routes and cycle paths, perfect for the more active traveler to explore. Meanwhile, Mljet National Park is the best to visit from Dubrovnik. The protected land covers much of Mljet Island, 32 km (23 miles) off the coast of Dubrovnik in the Adriatic Sea.

Meanwhile, the park features two lovely saltwater lakes, Veliko and Malo Jezero (Large and Small Lake). Meanwhile, Veliko is home to a 12th-century Benedictine monastery, standing on the tiny islet of Sveta Melita.

Mljet offers many walking routes and cycle paths, including the Pomena Trail, a five-hour hike along the edge of the park, passing Rogac, Zaklopatica and other beautiful bays. Most visitors travel around by canoe or kayak, making stops for delicious seafood at the restaurants along the way.

Spend summer exploring the natural beauty of Croatia, taking in the stunning landscapes, wildlife and waterfalls along the way.